Lewiston puts a four-game unbeaten streak on the line against Quebec.
LEWISTON – The waiting is over. The roadblock preventing Lewiston Maineiacs defenseman Richard Stehlik from skating in a game this season has been lifted, and at 4 p.m. today the powerful defenseman will see his first home action against the Quebec Remparts.
“He can play in all situations,” said coach Mario Durocher. “We will use him against the other team’s top line, on the power play and on the penalty kill. He’ll get a lot of ice time.”
In his first game on Friday night, Stehlik collected his first point of the season, an assist on the Maineiacs’ third goal in a 3-1 win over Rimouski, a game in which he played against the league’s top scoring forward, Sidney Crosby.
“He didn’t come into the game without practicing or anything,” said Durocher. “He’s been able to practice and he had a good, solid presence on the ice.”
There are now three defensemen on the ice for the Maineiacs that have QMJHL experience: Stehlik, Jonathan Paiement and Brandon Roach.
“When he plays with someone that hasn’t played very long in the league, he’ll help them out and make them better,” said Durocher. “He brings so much to this team.”
The game, like the last against the Remparts, is expected to be a physical battle. During the preseason, Lewiston battled Quebec to two wins in two penalty-filled contests, then followed with a chippy tie at the Central Maine Civic Center last Sunday. Although it ended in a deadlock, that was the second consecutive game without a loss for the Maineiacs, who have since won two more.
The story last week was the play of Quebec goaltender Jean-Michel Filiatrault, who made 44 saves on 46 shots. If the Remparts hope to duplicate the feat this week, they will need Filiatrault to be on top of his game again.
The Maineiacs’ defense allowed only 23 shots on goal last Sunday and has been strong all week against some potent offensive teams. With Stehlik in the lineup, the Remparts will again have a hard time getting through to Lewiston’s goaltender. In net, Brandon Verge now has a win under his belt, having played the whole game against Rimouski on Friday for the win. Matt Davis will be well rested after getting the overtime win on Thursday in Baie-Comeau.
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